Surveying
Know the building before you own it.
RICS Level 2 and Level 3 surveys, single-issue defect reports and structural opinions, written in plain English with costs you can negotiate with.
A survey is the cheapest thing you will buy in a move
A few hundred pounds decides whether the roof, the damp or the crack in the gable costs you nothing or tens of thousands. We look, we photograph, we price.
- Level 2
HomeBuyer Survey
The most-chosen report for conventional homes under about 100 years old. Condition ratings, defects that affect value and what to do next.
- Level 3
Building Survey
A full structural inspection for older, listed, unusual or altered homes and anything you plan to renovate. Repair options and indicative costs.
- Defect report
One issue, properly
Damp, cracking, roof movement or timber decay investigated on its own, with a remedial plan and a cost band.
How it works
Choose the report
We recommend the level from the age, construction and your plans, and say honestly when a Level 2 is enough.
Inspection
A surveyor on site for two to five hours depending on level, with the loft, the drains and the outbuildings included.
Report within days
Photographs, condition ratings, defects, repair options and indicative costs, delivered as a PDF you can send to your solicitor.
Call with the surveyor
Every report ends with a conversation, so the findings become a negotiating position rather than a worry.
Fees, stated plainly
Survey fees depend on the level, the size and the age of the property. Indicative fees: Level 1 from £450, Level 2 from £700, Level 3 from £1,250 and a single-issue defect report from £400, all including VAT. Larger, listed or unusual buildings are quoted individually.
Surveys are carried out and signed by RICS-qualified surveyors and covered by professional indemnity insurance.
Every fee is confirmed in writing before you commit, in a plain terms of business letter with no surprises later. Figures on this page are indicative and exclude VAT unless stated. See fees and client money for how we hold and protect money.
Questions we are asked
Level 2 or Level 3?
Level 2 suits conventional homes in reasonable condition built after about 1920. Choose Level 3 for anything older, listed, extended, thatched, timber-framed or that you intend to alter.
How long does the report take?
Level 2 reports are usually with you within five working days of the inspection, Level 3 within seven.
Can the survey be used to renegotiate?
Yes. Our reports price the significant defects, which gives you evidence for a reduction or for the vendor to carry out works before exchange.
Do you survey flats?
Yes. For flats we inspect the demised areas and the common parts we can access, and comment on the building's external condition and any service charge implications.
Get a survey quote today.
Tell us the address and the level you have in mind; we confirm the fee and the earliest inspection date.